Karina Has Down Syndrome

One family's account of the early years with a child who has special needs

Cheryl Rogers and Gun Dolva

Down Syndrome is the single most common cause of intellectual disability, and so it is important that we all know more about this syndrome. Gun, Karina’s mother, has written this personal account, together with Cheryl Rogers, of day-to-day family life which gives us all an insight into some of the difficulties, and some of the solutions.

From being told the news, to wondering how to tell friends and family, the authors convey just what those first few days must have been like. Gun says ‘... the hardest thing for me to overcome is all the accumulated preconceptions about handicapped children’ and many, many parents will have experienced just that.

There is a warning to other parents not to keep a ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude, because many parents believe - and indeed are told - that there are other children with more severe problems. But get all the assistance you can from day one: the help on offer listed in this book seems very comprehensive, but remember this family lives in Australia. I was especially taken by the mention of a foundation which is looking for a host family to take Karina for one weekend each month, so that her parents can give more time to Karina’s brother and sister. This foundation also offers sibling workshops.

As well as a day-to-day diary of progress in those early years, it will be all too familiar for many parents to read how, once Karina is on the move, they have to become hardened to questioning looks from people. Dealing with a typical toddler is hard enough, but a screaming four- or five-year old is a lot harder. Parents of a child with ADHD will certainly know what this can be like. Rodney, Karina’s Dad, gives his point of view too, and talks of the pain of seeing his child used as the butt of jokes from other children.

We leave this account of Karina’s life when she is six-years old, and happily enjoying her birthday party at McDonalds. This book will be of great interest to any parent or grandparent who is involved with a child with special needs. There is an excellent list of UK resources listed in the book.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers 

paperback  £9.95   ISBN 1853028207

available  from       

Review published 19 December 2002 © Jill Curtis 2002